PROBLEMS OF HUMAN DENTITION 113 



normal inolar row. As already i)oiiited out, this theory seems 

 to he a plausible one, so long as one has not a sufficient number 

 of s):>eeimens of the two kinds of supernumerary teeth at hand 

 to establish indisputable facts. Yet this view is erroneous, 

 as the disto- and paramolars are entirely distinct variations. 

 This can be definitely proved by cases in which both types 

 of variation ai)pear simultaneously in one half of a jaw. I have 

 had the good fortune to meet with one case in which this 

 very rare coincidence occurred. This object is reproduced in 

 figure 8. As can be seen, the first and second molars had 

 fallen out, but fortunately the third remained in place. After 

 the evidence of this specimen, I think there can be no further 

 question about the distinctness of a para- and a distomolar. 



A few words may still l)e said about the anatomical features 

 of the paramolar. In most cases this element is of a very 

 simple shape. The crown never exhibits more than two small 

 and slightly developed cusps. In many specimens the crown 

 has a flattened surface, exhibiting in the center an insignificant 

 depression. In all the cases, from which I formed my conclu- 

 sions, there was but a single root. 



The above named peculiarities will suffice with regard to tlie 

 anatomy, topography and morphology of the paramolars. Some 

 remarks may still be made regarding the distomolars. In many 

 cases this supernumerary element is situated with regularity 

 behind the third molar, but among my specimens there are some 

 in which it is displaced a little. It is very important to note 

 that in case of displacement the distomolar deviates in a palatal 

 direction as illustrated in figure 9. This fact merits especial 

 notice in view of anomalies in the cusp differentiation of the 

 third molar to be described later on. This tendency to dis- 

 placement is, of course, due to the pressure of the soft parts 

 and may not be considered as the expression of a primary topo- 

 graphical disposition. The outer aspect of the distomolars is 

 very different. It has been mentioned already that among the 

 specimens investigated by me none occurred in which the disto- 

 molar repeated in all respects the form and size of a fully devel- 

 oped normal molar. It appeared usually as a small tooth with 



